Generation of smart HTML anchors in dynamic web page creation

Abstract

A method of dynamically generating a Web page at a Web server in response to an HTTP request from a Web client in a computer network. The Web page has a hypertext reference identifying a linked page supported on each of a set of other servers in the computer network. In response to the request, a given one of the set of other servers is identified based on some given criteria, e.g., shortest access time, lightest current load, or the like. Information identifying a path to the identified other server is then inserted into the hypertext reference as the Web page (including the hypertext reference) is returned to the Web client in response to the request. Thus, if the hypertext reference is later activated by the user browsing the returned Web page, the linked page is preferentially served from the identified other server.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of generating a document formatted according to a hypertext language implemented at a given server in a computer network, the document having a hypertext reference identifying a linked object supported on each of a set of other servers in the computer network, comprising the steps of: 
       in response to a request from a client for the document, dynamically selecting one of the other servers of the set based on a given criteria indicating that the linked object is then available for retrieval from the selected other server;  
       inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the selected other server; and  
       returning the document including the hypertext reference to the client in response to the request.  
     
     
       2. The method as described in claim  1  wherein the given criteria is evaluated against status information about the set of other servers maintained at the given server. 
     
     
       3. The method as described in claim  2  wherein the selected other server has a then-current availability, based on a location of the selected other server in the computer network relative to the client, that is greater than at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       4. The method as described in claim  3  wherein the request is an HTTP request. 
     
     
       5. The method as described in claim  2  wherein the selected other server has a then-current access time less than an access time of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       6. The method as described in claim  2  wherein the selected other server has a then-current load less than a load of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       7. The method as described in claim  1  wherein the hypertext language is Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and the hypertext reference is an anchor. 
     
     
       8. A method of dynamically generating a Web page at a Web server in response to an HTTP request from a Web client in a computer network, the Web page having a hypertext reference identifying a linked page supported on each of a set of other servers in the computer network, comprising the steps of: 
       in response to the request, identifying one of the set of other servers that satisfies a given criteria indicating that the linked page is then available for retrieval from the identified other server;  
       inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the identified other server; and  
       returning the Web page including the hypertext reference to the Web client in response to the request such that if the hypertext reference is later activated, the linked page is served from the identified other server.  
     
     
       9. The method as described in claim  8  further including the step of maintaining at the Web server status information about availability of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       10. The method as described in claim  9  wherein the given criteria is evaluated against the information about the set of other servers maintained at the Web server. 
     
     
       11. The method as described in claim  8  wherein the identified other server has a then-current access time less than an access time of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       12. The method as described in claim  8  wherein the identified other server has a then-current load less than a load of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       13. The method as described in claim  8  wherein the identified other server has a then-current availability, based on allocation of the identified other server in the computer network relative to the Web client, that is greater than at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       14. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a Web server connectable in a computer network for dynamically generating a Web page in response to a Web client request, the Web page having a hypertext reference identifying a linked object supported on each of a set of other servers in the computer network, the computer program product comprising: 
       means responsive to the Web client request for identifying one of the set of other servers that satisfies a given criteria indicating that the linked object is then available for retrieval from the identified other server;  
       means for inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the identified other server; and  
       means for returning the Web page including the hypertext reference to the Web client in response to the request such that if the hypertext reference is later activated, the linked object is served from the identified other server.  
     
     
       15. The computer program product as described in claim  14  farther including means for maintaining at the Web server status information about availability of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       16. The computer program product as described in claim  15  wherein the identifying means evaluates the given criteria against the information about the set of other servers maintained at the Web server. 
     
     
       17. The computer program product as described in claim  16  wherein the identified other server has a then-current access time less than an access time of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       18. The computer program product as described in claim  16  wherein the identified other server has a then-current load less than a load of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       19. The computer program product as described in claim  16  wherein the identified other server has a then-current availability, based on a location of the identified other server in the computer network relative to the Web client, that is greater than at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       20. A computer for use as a Web server in a computer network, comprising: 
       a processor;  
       an operating system; and  
       means for dynamically generating a Web page in response to a Web client request, the Web page having a hypertext reference identifying a linked page supported on each of a set of other servers in the computer network, comprising:  
       means responsive to the Web client request for identifying one of the set of other servers that satisfies a given criteria indicating that the linked page is then available for retrieval from the identified other server;  
       means for inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the identified other server; and  
       means for returning the Web page including the hypertext reference to the Web client in response to the request such that if the hypertext reference is later activated, the linked page is served from the identified other server.  
     
     
       21. The computer as described in claim  20  further including means for maintaining information about availability of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       22. The computer as described in claim  21  wherein the identifying means evaluates the given criteria against the information about the set of other servers maintained at the Web server. 
     
     
       23. The computer as described in claim  22  wherein the identified other server has a then-current load less than a load of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       24. The computer as described in claim  22  wherein the identified other server has a then-current availability, based on a location of the identified other server in the computer network relative to the Web client, that is greater then at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       25. The computer as described in claim  22  wherein the identified other server has a then-current access time less than an access time of at least some of the other servers in the set. 
     
     
       26. A method of dynamically generating a Web page at a Web server in response to an HTTP request from a Web client in a computer network, the Web page having a set of hypertext references, each hypertext reference identifying a linked page supported on each of a set of other servers in the computer network, comprising the steps of: 
       in response to the request for the Web page, identifying each of the hypertext references required by the page;  
       for etch hypertext reference; and  
       identifying one of the set of other servers that satisfies a given criteria indicating that the linked page is then available for retrieval from the identified other server;  
       inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the identified other serves; and  
       returning the Web page including the hypertext references to the Web client in response to the request.  
     
     
       27. A Web page having a hypertext reference identifying a linked page supported on each of a set of servers in a computer network, generated by a method comprising the steps of: 
       in response to a given HTTP request received from a Web client, identifying one of the set of other servers that satisfies a given criteria; and  
       inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the identified other server such that, when the Web page including the hypertext reference is returned to the Web client in response to the request, the linked page is preferentially served from the identified other server.  
     
     
       28. A method of generating a document formatted according to a hypertext language implemented at a given server in a computer network, the document having a hypertext reference identifying a linked object, comprising the steps of: 
       maintaining a list of a set of other servers in the computer network on which the linked object is supported;  
       periodically gathering status information about the set of other servers;  
       in response to a request from a client for the document, dynamically selecting one of the other servers based on the status information; and  
       inserting into the hypertext reference information identifying a path to the selected other server.